Northrup Canyon

Northrup Canyon holds the only native forest in Grant County: ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and Douglas-fir growing in a sheltered canyon near Steamboat Rock State Park. The trail follows an old ranch road along the canyon floor to an abandoned homestead, then continues to Northrup Lake for those wanting more distance. The forest canopy provides welcome shade in a region where shade barely exists.

Winter transforms this canyon into one of the best bald eagle viewing sites in the state. Up to 200 eagles roost in the trees along the south canyon wall each night from late fall through early spring. The Old Wagon Road Trail branches off from the same trailhead and climbs to bluff-top views of Banks Lake and the surrounding coulee landscape. Fall foliage runs like a river of color through the canyon bottom.

Rattlesnakes emerge in spring and remain active through summer. Ticks and bugs are reported in warmer months. The ranch road can be brushy in sections during the growing season, but the main trail to the homestead stays clear. Early morning starts improve chances of wildlife sightings.